The Africa Cup of Nations is filled with amazing talents across the continent hoping to showcase their qualities and create lasting memories for their national teams.
At AFCON 2021, the best players remain the Premier League trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez (…what an attacking lineup that would be!) who have dominated the podium places of the African Player of the Year for the last few seasons.
Each are wonderful goalscoring wingers who have contributed to evolving the role of the modern-day winger. However, none of the talented wide men finished as top scorer in the last two editions of the tournament.
Infact, Odion Ighalo won the Golden Boot at AFCON 2019 to remind the continent of the value of a vintage Fox in The Box with his five goals.
After ranking the top favorites to win the continental showpiece, we will evaluate the top candidates to win the top scorer award at AFCON 2021.
Mohamed Salah
The two-time African Player of the Year arrives at Cameroon as arguably the best player in the world at the moment. His prolific efforts for Liverpool remain dependable as he has inspired their hunt for silverware on multiple fronts this season.
Salah has not stopped scoring this season as he already registered 23 goals and nine assists in only 26 games for the Reds so far in 2021/22. That incredible goal scoring consistency will stand him in good stead at AFCON and Carlos Queiroz will be keen to rely on his output.
The 29-year-old is on course to win the Premier League Golden Boot later this year and that might even include AFCON where he will hope to lead Egypt to a record-extending eighth continental crown.
No one will bet against Salah considerably adding to his record of 43 goals and 24 assists in 73 international caps in Cameroon.
Sadio Mane
Salah’s Liverpool teammate will represent a familiar rival on international duty in early 2022. Just as they have done competing for the top individual awards for club and country, two of Africa’s very best will have no holds barred when Egypt and Senegal expectedly jostle for top honors in Cameroon.
Mane will lead the hopes of the Teranga Lions as they seek to go one better than their runner-up finish in 2019. His marksmanship could well see the 29-year-old among the front runners for the Golden Boot come the end of the tournament and he will hope for once that his Reds teammate is not there to share the accolade with him.
Nevertheless, it is safe to think that Mane will have a say in the final rankings of the AFCON top scorers especially if Senegal go all the way come February 6.
Sebastien Haller
Here is a name who might be about to stun the continent with his goal scoring prowess. After switching his international allegiance in 2020, Haller has already scored thrice in eight caps for the Elephants and ell eyes are on his performance in a first international tournament.
The striker is having a prolific season with Ajax and leads the Eredivisie goal scoring charts with 12 goals in 17 matches. Haller scored in all six UEFA Champions League group stage games to match the record set by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2017 as he became the first player to ever score ten goals in his first six Champions League appearances.
The recognition as the top scorer in the UCL could galvanize the 27-year-old into a spectacular run of goal scoring run of form for the fancied Ivorians. Given the Golden Boot winner in 2019 was an unexpected Fox in The Box, Haller will be keen to harness the quality which has stood him out since ending a failed move to West Ham in 2021.
Baghdad Bounedjah
The prolific Al-Sadd striker had a breakthrough campaign in international football as his talismanic efforts led Algeria to their second AFCON triumph in Egypt.
Having scored the winning goal in the 2019 Final, Bounedjah’s grit and finishing ability will once again be vital for the Fennecs who are top favorites for a consecutive title. The powerful forward was top scorer in the Qatari League with 21 goals and seven assists in 19 appearances last season, and will spearhead the 2021 Arab Cup winners.
The 30-year-old possesses serious pedigree as the all-time top scorer in Qatar Stars League history and he might be about to cement his legacy at AFCON 2021.
Executing a key role for the tournament favorites and being familiar with many of Africa’s top defenses, Bounedjah woud hardly be a surprise AFCON 2021 Golden Boot winner.
Islam Slimani
The Lyon striker makes up a fearsome forward duo available to Djamel Belmadi’s defending champions. Despite undertaking a reserved role in their AFCON 2019 triumph due to the talismanic presence of Bounedjah, Slimani has since become Algeria’s all-time top goalscorer and will fancy his chances going to Cameroon.
The 33-year-old will have a well-oiled supporting cast behind him and there is every chance he will trouble the top goascorers’ list should he get consistent gametime.
Slimani is probaby taking part in his final AFCON with the Desert Warriors and will be desperate to end on a high with the Golden Boot and a rare consecutive winners medal.